Although the New Orleans Saints prevailed over the Detroit Lions in Saturday evening’s NFC portion of Wildcard contests by the final score of 45-28, it certainly did not start out looking like it would end that way at all.

The Lions and their long-suffering fans had been bragging about the restoration of the roar upon earning their first return trip to the NFC Playoffs since 1999 with a 10-6 record and the number 6 seed in 2011, and for good reason.

Detroit came on strong from the word “Go!” after winning the toss, fielding a touchback from the foot of Saints’ punter/kicker Thomas Morstead and promptly taking a 7-0 lead on New Orleans in the Superdome. That initial Lions’ drive consisted of 8 plays for 80 yards and took 4:02 off the clock. This game was starting out with a very impressive roar from the visiting team.

After methodically plotting a sure-to-score route from their own 19 yard line to Detroit’s 31 yard line, the Saints then experienced a hiccup on their first drive from scrimmage. On a completed 13 yard pass from Drew Brees to Marques Colston on a 2nd and two play, LB Stephen Tulloch forced a fumble which his pride-mate LB Justin Durant quickly pounced on and recovered right there on the kill-site at the Lions’ 18 yard line.

But the Saints’ defense fought back against the Lions’ attack and stopped them in their tracks at mid-field, forcing a punt and negating the turnover by not allowing it to be converted into points against them.